Courtesy of TNT
Warning: Spoiler Alert
Slattery, Gator, and Foster brainstorm over what is the best course of action pertaining to the pursuit of Ramsey’s sub. These thoughts are tactical in nature, but after what happened last episode (Valkyrie), Tom Chandler is no longer interested in the slow strategic approach.
Chandler: NO. We’re not hiding any longer and we’re not waiting for Ramsey to make the first move. If that sub is waiting for us in the mouth of the river, we go around. Attack her on from the flank. This ends today.
Granderson, makes known in no uncertain terms that she is not exactly thrilled with Valerie’s attitude. Despite Granderson’s direct demands to knowing what side Valerie’s on, Valerie pushes through, attempting to reconnect to the Valkyrie network.
President Michener paces in his oval-like office as Chandler briefs him on the current situation. They will be monitoring everything Val does, but with the understanding that Chandler believes they have won her over to the good guys. They still have no sonar, but the Engineering team is working to fix that, even if it’s only temporary. When their fix is done, they will be running ten times the current the system was designed for. So, the system could burn out in as early as mere minutes. Michener is not exactly pleased. It should be noted, that I like others, are still somewhat skeptical of Michener. He may have the right intentions, but his body language at times suggests that he might not be all in.
Chandler takes this moment as an opportunity to present the next step of the immediate plan. The biggest factor of this plan is instituting Chandler’s own version of the “Designated Survivor”. Instead of picking someone in the line of succession to be absent from whatever this is, Chandler conveys to Michener that he, along with Slattery, Dr. Scott and a few other key people will be removed from the Nathan James, guarded by the ships most experienced operatives, to ensure that the line of succession (namely President Michener) stays intact.
Granderson and Val brief the leadership on what they’ve found from connecting back into the Valkyrie network. Several phones have been plotted to show a deliberate attempt at a blockade. Based on the chatter they’re hearing, Ramsey has the immunes and civilians working side by side. Burk suggests taking three operatives and some RPG’s and they could single-handedly take out the blockade. Michener interjects that no civilians are to be fired upon under any circumstances. There is a visible desire of retaliation behind Burk’s eyes, but Chandler jumps in to support the President’s comment. Val, of all people in the room, suggests another tactic. She can’t disable the network, but she could very easily, engage in a misinformation campaign to throw the civilians off their scent. With Val’s idea, the risky window of available sonar, this could be their only and best shot.
The team prepares to separate the “Designated Survivors”. Green and Foster meet in a hallway in the ship, seemingly alone. At first they are professional. If my experience with my own wife and multiple pregnancies are any indication, even the strongest of sailors could not possibly handle the rigors of what might be approaching third trimester pregnancy, the loss of friends, the pressure of sinking a sub and the prospect of losing the father of her child. I said out loud to my wife, what’s the probability she says “don’t let me raise this child on my own”? Just as they begin to part ways, cue the passionate retreat. Father at belly height, then a heart-felt kiss later, they depart in different directions successfully this time.
Chandler and Slattery share some parting words. Chandler standing resolute with the mission at hand. Slattery mildly disappointed he won’t be on board when they sink the sub. Then Chandler hands him a folded envelope and says only, “for my family”, on the relatively slim reality that Chandler may not make it out of this scrape alive.
Val sets up on the bridge and begins sending out her messages of misinformation. With Granderson watching her like a hawk. Within seconds, they get reply messages confirming the civilians are on the move to intercept the Nathan James in an area where the Nathan James does not intend to be. Not only are the civilians falling for it, it appears that Ramsey is as well.
With no civilians in sight, Chandler wants to test their new rigged sonar. Meanwhile, Tex tries to put a visibly stressed Dr. Scott at ease. Before there can be a response to this awkwardly accurate sentiment, Burk notices two civilians. One of which seems to be a sick child. Against her better judgment for the mission at hand, Dr. Scott jets out of the tent to help the child. Before she can get there, a father figure jumps out to prevent the help. Eventually, he lowers his rifle. This is the painfully awkward part. The breathing the cure on an infected person is just difficult to witness. The mother seems almost angry at the sight. “I thought you were going to cure her?” Dr. Scott looks up to claim that she has already cured the child, merely by breathing on her.
The family was not without gratitude and to show their appreciation, they offered up some second-hand intel. They heard a couple British people from the sub talking about bringing along a very large weapon to sink the ship. For fear of giving away the Nathan James’ position, the ground team has gone dark. Green suggests they try to take out whatever this is themselves.
Val has been flooding the network with her misinformation campaign. And while it seemed like a smart idea, it was too much too fast. And Sean Ramsey knows it. Garnett fires up the rigged sonar but only for a moment. The sub hears the ping but doesn’t recognize it as sonar. Chandler readies TAO for a firing solution. With no movement and the ship moving dangerously slow, Chandler channels his inner Zen. Chandler orders the ship to steer right at the same time Ramsey believes they are close. Chandler orders another quick sonar sweep. Ramsey orders prop movement. This allows both parties to realize that the Nathan James is literally sitting on top of the sub.
Chandler: We can’t fire with them right below us. COME TO FULL POWER. ALL ENGINES AHEAD FLANK THREE!
Both vessels move ahead full. The Nathan James is turning while the sub attempts to match course. Chandler is gambling on the sub’s inexperience in the hopes they’ll move too fast. As the sub makes for the trench with all haste, Chandler orders the engines in full reverse. Just then, the sonar gives out and Chandler calls for all engines full. The sub dives with fish in the water. Mid dive, it appears at least one of the fish hit something. No time to celebrate though, as the sub had fired its own. The Nathan James takes a hit. They need to seal affected compartments, which could involve locking down Garnett, Jeter and O’Connor.
With only surface weapons, the Nathan James is forced to make this a surface fight. The sub was hit, but the severity is unknown. What is known, is that they are forced to lift to periscope depth.
Slattery, Green and Tex find the big something the Ramsey’s hope to use to sink the Nathan James. What look like to this novice as a four pack of surface to air missiles at the ready. Slattery can see from their vantage point that the Nathan James is leaking black smoke. An indication they’ve already been hit.
Slattery: What’d you do Tommy? Ok, here’s the plan boys. Win.
Tex: Good plan.
Green creates a distraction that brings half of their seven out. In short order they are widdled down to half of their group. Green takes a shot to the middle of his vest, but Tex takes that guy out. It’s now three on three. One of their two hits Slattery in his left shoulder. One of their men circles around to finish off Slattery, who catches him by surprise. The annoying cockney usually on board the sub takes to the controls. A one-armed, limping Slattery takes out his cover. By my math, that leaves 3 on 1, with their one unprotected. My math was wrong. A fourth emerges, but Tex takes him out in close quarters. At that moment, Slattery , with his good arm removes the man at the controls.
The sub surfaces. The sub and the Nathan James will now commence the surface fight. Meanwhile, Slattery is in a fight of his own. The man at the controls fights back, ultimately getting Slattery in a defensive position. Green takes out a guy resurging and Tex snaps the neck of his combatant. With the bad guy’s finger pressing into Slattery’s wound, Slattery finds the focus to pull his knife and penetrate it into his opponent’s torso.
Chandler maneuvers but is unable to find a clear shot. Ramsey puts the sub into position and has a clean shot. Instruments indicate the sub is preparing to fire. Just as it seems like Chandler’s gamble will not pay off. Something big and destructive impacts the sub. How you like ‘dem apples Sean Ramsey? Slattery, injured but not without focus, took the controls of Sean Ramsey’s big secret weapon and pierced him with it. Chaos befalls the sub. Lt. Foster and XO Slattery take turns firing on the sub from their different vantage points. The sub sinks and it falls to pieces. And to that end, XO Mike Slattery gets his well deserved moment.
